NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – The Niagara University baseball team (5-12, 2-0) swept Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference foe Manhattan College (4-13, 0-2), 9-2 and 2-1, in the both teams league-opening series Saturday at Van Cortlandt Park in Riverdale, N.Y.

Game 1 - Niagara 9, Manhattan 2

Two big late innings helped Niagara pull out its first MAAC road win of the season. The Purple Eagles scored four runs in the seventh inning and three in the eighth to snap a 2-2.

Freshman Dan Griffin (Schenectady, N.Y.) threw the first four innings, before rookie Ryan Virtue (Stittsville, Ont.) picked up the win with one shutout inning. Sophomore James Avery (Moose Jaw, Sask.) picked up his first save of the season, going three innings and allowing one hit.

Offensively, Niagara pounded the ball with 15 hits. Junior Reed Eastley (Brandon, Manitoba) was 3 for 5 with a double and a run batted in, sophomore Andrew MacNevin (St. Catherines, P.E.I.) was 2 for 4 with a double and two RBI, classmate Paul Solini (Liverpool, N.Y.) was 2 forf 5 with a double and senior Greg Lehman (Croghan, N.Y.) was 1 for 3 with a two-run RBI.

Junior Vince Ircandia (Calgary, Alberta) and senior Tim Fitzgerald (Orchard Park, N.Y./Canisius) had two and three hits, respectively.

Game 2 - Niagara 2, Manhattan 1

Sophomore Matt Schafer’s (Clifton Park, N.Y.) singled up the middle in the fourth inning proved to be the game-winning hit to give Niagara the sweep of Manhattan.

MacNevin got on in the fourth with a walk, went to second on a Lehman walk and then scored on Schafer’s single.

Niagara scored its firs run in the second inning when sophomore Mike Alati (Vaughn, N.Y.) homered to right field.

Freshman Josh Sawatzky (Altona, Manitoba) picked up the win on the mound going seven innings and allowing one run on seven hits and striking out four.